Telemedicine Can Counter The Spread of Infectious Disease

Even in the modern day, new infectious diseases have risen to plague the world. Our post on Monkeypox in New York City reports that as many as 150,000 city residents were at risk of infection recently, despite the fact that it used to be a rare disease in central and west Africa. With the disease being easily transmissible through skin-to-skin contact, or even just the sharing of towels or blankets, there is a need to take extra precautions.

One of the main things people can do to prevent the spread of disease is to avoid crowded areas and stay at home. However, with other health concerns and medical emergencies in the mix, it's nearly impossible to consult a doctor in person without getting into close proximity to other patients in clinics and hospitals. Telemedicine combats this by providing an opportunity to consult a medical professional and receive treatment - without risking infection.

Defining telemedicine

As defined by healthcare professionals in Missouri, telemedicine and telehealth are often used interchangeably. While telehealth encompasses medical processes - from diagnosis to treatment and care management - its subset telemedicine often focuses on the delivery of clinical care remotely. Both telehealth and telemedicine are capable of improving patient outcomes by removing the need for travel and increasing accessibility to physicians.

Read on to find out more about how telemedicine can combat the spread of disease:

Health professionals can diagnose remotely

When sick with a disease, many patients feel fatigued as their body tries to fight off the infection. This makes it especially difficult for vulnerable groups to leave home for a check-up or receive a prescription, which may put them at further risk.

As such, most medical professionals offer online consultations with all states now offering such services to increase the amount of patients being seen. Remote nurse practitioners in Utah, who provide virtual care in Salt Lake City, Layton, Ogden, and other parts of the state are successfully tackling the state's nursing shortage. These nurse practitioners take on additional training to use specific telemedicine technology and platforms, as well as the best practices for a good web-side manner. These methods can help patients be more comfortable with remote medical care and be more transparent with their health problems. Aside from the ease of facilitating patient/physician relationships, remote care provides the option to stay safe from infectious diseases.

Close contact is minimized

One of the main benefits of telemedicine is the minimal risk associated with close contact. A systematic review on "The Role of Telehealth During COVID-19 outbreak" found that telehealth was highly effective worldwide in 2020, helping both patients and healthcare providers who were self-isolating to prevent the further spread of the disease. Through telemedicine, patients can receive important diagnoses and treatment for other illnesses, while doctors and nurses can still provide instruction and care remotely.

There are also several added benefits of not having to consult in person. Patients from far-flung areas don't have to spend extra money to travel, which can be a huge expense, especially on top of the cost of most medicines and treatments. On the other hand, medical professionals are still capable of working online in case they are forced to stay at home to self-isolate, helping reduce the burden associated with the shortage of staff and the excessive number of patients. Through remote services, healthcare providers can also mitigate personal instances of burnout and fatigue.

Even if you're located far from a clinic or hospital, or are vulnerable to contagious diseases, telemedicine can help you get the healthcare that you need. With the proliferation of more telehealth options, providers are currently developing applications and software to improve these processes. This way, more people are encouraged to engage with remote care and prevent further spread of infectious diseases.